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Monday, January 21, 2013

It's All Relative

Everything is relative.Does that mean that everyone in the world/universe is
related by some means. Or does it mean, conditional, connected, in regard to,
or proportionate?Hold on to your
brain matter, we are about to take an esoteric trip into some kind of
phenomenon.Frightened, aren’t
you.I have required very little
thinking on your part for over three years. I have filled in all the blanks and
opened you up to some amazing perspectives on life, love, literature, and
cooking.But now I have expectations.

In Salt Lake City, gas is at about $2.65 per gallon.On the east coast (NE), it ranges
between $3 and $4.The west coast,
(north and south), is pretty much the same.The cost is relative to where you are located, and how
difficult it is to get the oil to you.So in Dallas it’s in the low $3’s, and Tucson it’s high, not quite
$3.Listing gas prices could take
hours and hours. And it’s pretty boring,but that’s not relative to this blob.The point is, that even low gas prices are a whole lot
higher now than before President Obama took office.Which is also not the point of this blob.

When gas prices started to rise, everyone was outraged.It took a few months and then they
started to fluctuate.Up and down
and down and up, but never below high to mid 2’s. The gas companies did this
for a reason.With gas reaching
above $4, during some months, when a person had to pay $3.50, then $3.09, the
conversation went from “holy cow $4”, to “$3.25, gas is really cheap.”My point is that people can and will
get used to anything. Eventually, we become desensitized, and are willing to
accept things that should still be considered outrageous.

Yesterday, I was looking at a list
of Broadway shows opening over the next few months.The price of tickets, just like the price of gas, continues
to rise until, what we think is ridiculous, eventually becomes the normal.
Seats at “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “Matilda,” and the new Tom Hanks show, all
start at $175 or more.That’s per
ticket without any refreshments.Last year, when the tickets jumped to $125 and $140 per seat we couldn’t
believe it, And as with gasoline, when we are offered tickets at the half price
window for $90, we cannot believe how lucky we are.It’s all relative.

Not everyone pays that much.There are group sales and discounts and
companies that specialize in offering cheap seats, but alas, the pricing
eliminates anyone who is not an insider, does not work for Wall street or a big
corporation, or lives on Park Avenue or the upper east side.This pricing, combined with an absence
of original or spectacular,could
kill Broadway – wah, wah, wah.

The President was inaugurated
today.There was a time when a $50
donation would get you at least standing room.Now a $45,000 contribution might get you a seat.Even $10,000 seems ordinary.My first Inaugural was Carter in 1977.
My last was in 2009. I was staff, so my costs were physical rather than financial.Do I miss the excitement?Well, I miss the parade –always one of
my favorite events.What I don’t
miss are the crowds, the self important bullshit, and the disingenuous
political grandstanding.When you
are on the inside, the celebration feels pretty heady.When you are an outsider, (or from the
opposing party), it can be tedious and disappointing.Peacefull tansition of power (whether it is to a different
President or the same Party) is unique andquite stunning.It makes you proud to be an American.But whether or not it makes you happy, is all relative.We're just sayin'.....Iris